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Professional Development

Highest-paid accounting roles revealed

One of Australia’s biggest job-seeking services has revealed the top five highest-paying jobs in accounting across the country, with notable growth recorded in compliance and risk and surprising dips in other areas.

In the 12 months to 30 June 2017, Seek found the highest paying accounting roles are financial managers and controllers, recording 1 per cent growth in 12 months for an average salary of $126,253.

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This was followed by strategy and planning roles, despite a 2 per cent dip compared to this time last year, with an average salary of $122,394.

Management accountants averaged a salary of $110,807, with a growth of 1 per cent. This was followed by roles in compliance and risk, which recorded the most substantial growth over 12 month period of 7 per cent, with an average salary of $109,380.

Roles in treasury recorded average an salary of $106,250, which is 3 per cent less than the previous financial year.

Overall, the average accountants’ salary in Australia is $83,568, which is a growth of only 1 per cent over the course of the year.

“We’ve seen salary levels stagnate over the last 12 months, with businesses looking to trade off limited salary growth with increased flexibility and work/life balance for their employees,” said Braedon Jones, who is a manager in accounting, finance and banking at Aston Carter.

Unsurprisingly and consistent with previous data, NSW comes out on top in terms of national figures, with an average salary of $87,099. This is followed closely by the ACT at $85,004.

The most growth in the last financial year was in Tasmania, the average accountants’ salary there is $74,303, which is well below the national average but up 4 per cent compared to the previous year.

These figures don’t indicate a gender breakdown, which is an important consideration when considering the accuracy of averages. Typically, female salaries are substantially lower.

For example, data from the 2013/14 financial year- which is now complete compared to data from more recent financial years which is still trickling in — indicates women who fell into the accountant and chartered accountant category had an average taxable income of $71,552. Men in the same category, however, had an average taxable income of $105,107.